Apparatus for surfacing railroad-tracks.



No. 676,!29. Patentbd lune II, |90l. W". GOLDIEL" APPARATUS FORSURFACING RAILROAD TRACKS.

(Application filed July 25, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Nn. 676,I29. Patented lune Il, |90l.

W. y'l'llLD-E. APPARATUS FOB SUBFACING RAiLRDAD TRACKS.

(Application led July 25, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Shqet 2.

(No Nudel.)

Inventor:

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NITED STATES l PATENT OEEICE.

VILLIAM GOLDIE, OF IVI-LKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SURFACING RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming par@ 0f Letters Patent No. 676,129, dated J' une11, 1901.

Application filed July 25, 1900.v Serial No. 24,745. (No model.) u

To ol/ZZ whom, it may concorre:

Be itknown that I,\VILLI-AM GOLDIE, a resident of W'ilkinsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Apparatus for Surfacing Railroad-Tracks; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof. t

My invention relates to apparatus for surfacing railroad-tracks, itsobject being to provide means for bringing the tracks to and holdingthem at proper surface without the necessity of tamping, which is themain or only means now employed in the ordinary steam-railroad for suchpurposes.

In an application of even date herewith, Serial No. 24,744., I havedescribed the method of surfacing railroad-tracks by injecting cementunder the ties and upon the ballast bed giving them support, and therebyforming cement supporting-beds forthe ties interposed between the bed ofballast, which has generally been solidly packed by the weight of thepassing trains, and the'tie itself without disturbing such solid ballastsupporting-bed, the invention including other improvements, as moreparticularly set forth therein.

The present invention haspfor its objectto provide means for theinjecting of the cement under the ties and for forming the interposedcement beds between them and the ballast, fully described in saidapplication.

It comprises,generally stated, means for-injecting the cement under theties-such, for example, as an injector-pipe extending under the same, afeeding-basin and feedingpipe leading thereto, and an air or likeforcepump for forcing the cement through such injector-pipe under theties.

It also consists in certain improvements in the construction of suchapparatus.

It also consists in combining with the injecting apparatus mechanicalsupports for the rails at some of the ties, so that when the track isbrought to proper surface it may support the passing trains until thecement is set under the other ties, after which the cement beds may beformed under the ties where the rails have been so mechanicallysupported.

It. also consists in certain other improvements, as hereinafter setforth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and u'se my invention, Iwill describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective view of a railroadtrackhaving the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of theapparatus, showing the track in cross-section. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionon the line 3 3, Fig. I. Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of the mixing-basinand feed'- ing and injecting pipes. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of thedam-plate. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective View of the injector-pipeand its coupling with the feeding-pipe. Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofthe channel-molding bar; and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on theline 8 8, Fig. 2, the shims being placed above the tie. In the use ofthe invention any suitable material of the nature of cement which isquick-setting, so as to form a solid interposed bed between the tie andthe ballast bed, may be employed, either Portland cement or cement oflike nature, or asphaltum or like material.

'Ihe injecting apparatus formingthe subject of the present inventionwill of course be constructed according to the material used and thecondition in which it is used,the invention includin g,broadly,anysuitable mechanism for injecting the cement or like plastic materialoperated either mechanically or under fluid-pressure or otherwise. Themechanism particularly described in the present application isconsidered Verysuitable for the purpose and of simple form, consideringthe condition under which such mechanism will have to be used inisolated territory through which railroads often pass.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an ordinary singletrack. The ties l are of course the ordinary wooden ties, though theinvention may be employed with lnetal ties, if considered desirable. Theties :rest upon the regular ballast bed 3, and the ballast is filled inbetween the ties, as at 4, this interposed filling of ballast extendingup toward or to the top of the ties. The custom is to pack the ballastbut loosely under the center of the ties, the ballast being tamped asfirmly as possible under the portions thereof on which the rails 2rest-that is, the outer portions of the ties for a distance of from IOOiifteen to eighteen to 18) inches from the" ends. V

As the invention will be used to great eX- tent in connection with thesurfacing of track previously lai'd,I Will describe it in connectionwith the same. In order to support the weight of any passing trainduring the surfacing of the track, I employ any suitable mechanicalsupports for the rails at different points, such as the shims 5, littingunder some of the ties,

` a'siswell known to road masters, the shims 5 are inserted. The Workmenthen clear out y theballast which may extend around the ends oft-theties, as at 6, in order to give free access for the insertion of thecement, and to close the end of the space under the ties I employ thedam-plates 7, each of which fits against the end of the tie-body andforms a dam to prevent the cement from iiowing backwardly from under thetie. This dam- .plate is shown in perspective in Fig. 5, being simply ametal plate corresponding in width to'thetie-bodyand being of sufficientlength toeXtend up along the end of the tie and hold thereto, thedam-plate having spikes or prongs vt3, which take into the tie to holdit in place. The dam-plate is also preferably formed with openings orrecesses 9 10, close toer in its lower edge, one opening 9 for theinsertion of the injector-pipe, by which the cement is injected underthe tie,and the other `opening 10 for the insertion of the drainagemold-bar 11, which is shown in the drawings as a long bar inserted underthe tie for a greater distance than the cement bed to be formed, so asto insure a regular drainagecanal 12 for the flow of the water fromunder `the mid-portionof the tie, and thereby prevent rotting action onaccount of confined moisture.

The injecting apparatus illustrated in the drawings consists of aninjector-pipe 13, extending under the tie, a feeding-pipe 14,communicating therewith, a mixing funnel or basin 15,'commuuicating withthe injector-` pipe, `and anair force-pump 16, arranged to generateair-pressure for injecting the cement. The injector-pipe 13 ispreferably made flat or oval in cross-section, so as to enterthrough thenarrow space under the tie, and 'passes through the opening 9 and haspreferably a T-joint 17 to receive the end of thefeedingpipe 14 and aplug 1S, closing the'other opening, to facilitate cleaning of theinjector-pipe, it being of course desirable that the parts shall beseparable to provide for quick and even cleaning and to prevent thesetting of the cementin the pipes. The feeding-pipe 14 is made'ofsubstantially the same cross-sectional area as the injector-pipe andextends up above the tie and supports the basin 15, such feed pipe beingintended to receive a charge from the basin, which is forced byair-pressure through the injectorpipe under the tie. At the upper end ofthe injector-pipe is the coupling 19 for the hose 20, leading to theforce-pump 1G. An ordinary hand-operated air force-pump is consideredthe most desirable for the purpose, and it needs no further description.The basin 15 is preferably made funnel-shaped, so as to feed the cementdown into the feeding-pipe, it providing meansfor the mixture of the drycement material with the-Water, so as to bring the saine to the properplastic condition, andwhen so used the lower end of the basin is closedby the valve 2l. Any suitable valve may of course-be used; but I preferto have an ordinary rotating plugvalve having Aan opening correspondingin inner diameter to the base or smaller end of the funnel, so that whennecessary the basin and its lower or smaller end may be easily andquickly cleaned from the cement contained therein, such as by thepassage of a bar through the lower end. It is important also to providefor the quick cleaning of all parts of the feeding-pipe, and for-thatpurpose it will be noticed that opposite opening 22 of the coupling 19,leading to the hosepipe 20, a like opening 23 is made, so as to providefor the passage of a bar across the feed-pipe to remove any cement whichmay be lodged and set therein, this opening being closed by the plug 24.The hose connection of course can be made with either one of theopenings 22 or 23, as desired.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the upper end of the feed-pipe and one formof spring-coupling suitable for use with the apparatus, as well as aplug 24 for closing the opening in the coupling 19, which is not in use.Such plug extends in flush with the interior of the feed-pipe 14, sothat in mechanically cleaning the same none'of the cement will be lodgedin the opening. For coupling the different parts I employ spring-clips25 on one coupling member engaging with an annular iiange 26 on theother coupling memberto sustain the parts under the pressure of theforcepump, grooves 27 in the flange permitting opening of the coupling,so leaving'all such parts free to be quickly opened and cleaned. Theplugs 18 and 24 may be held to place in like way.

In the use of the apparatus above described after the track has beenbrought to Yproper surface, being lifted by jacks or other means, andthe rails have been mechanically supported by the shims at certain ofthe ries the operator places the dam-plate 7 against the end of the tieunder which the interposed IOO IIO

to position and drawn back, it being desirsupporting cement bed is to beformed, and he supports the basin with the other parts in position. Thecement may be either previously mixed or may be mixed in the basin, andWhere Portland or like cement is used gravel, sand, or small brokenstone may also be mixed with the same, the cement being brought to acondition sufficiently fluid to flow down into the feeding-pipe 14.rllhe injector-pipe is inserted the proper distance under the tie, andby the opening of the valve 21 the cement flows down into thefeedingpipe until it is filled, or if it is in proper condition it maycontinue to loW down and pass out through the injector-pipe Linder thetie. If it is not sufficiently plastic to dow, the operator closes thevalve 2l and then through the force-pump 1G forces air above the body ofcement in the feeding-pipe 14, when the air under pressure above thebody of cement forces the cement down through the same and injects itunder the tie, forming the interposed cement bed 29 under that end ofthe tie. The feeding-pipe may be refilled as often as necessary, theinjector-pipe moved from position able to form a bed extending directlyunder the rail and for some distance beyond the same, and the interposedcement bed 19 being made of sufficient area to properly support the endof the tie. As the cement is in plastic condition, it naturally fills upthe inf terstices in the gravel bed under the tie and ballast betweenthe ties and conforms to the under face of the tie-body, forming a broadsupporting-surface, which when set givesl a solid rm support to the tie.Instead of injecting the same when in plastic condition it is evidentthat the cement-forming material when still dry may be injected underthe tie, moisture for setting the same being either subsequently fedthereto or the moisture contained in the ballast being utilized for thatpurpose. Soin like manner any apparatus for mechanically projecting thematerial under the tie may be used. As the cement is only intended to beused either in a plastic or dry state, it Will flow but little fartherthan the point to which it is injected under the tie, so that there ispractically no necessity for confining the inner end of the space whichis to be filled. The cement can be supplied in this way under each endof the tie While the track is mechanically supported, as above stated,at the proper level desired, and the track is permitted to rest in thatcondition until the cement is fully set and ready to support the ties,when the drainage mold-bars 11 may be Withdrawn,the dam-plates 8removed, and the operation then repeated With the ties where the railshave been so mechanically supported-such aseach alternatetie,as abovereferred to-and While the cement beds are being formed under these tiesthe previously formed and set cement beds will give the necessarysupport for the track and any train passing over it.

Vhere new tracks are being formed after the road has been regularlylaid,a train should be passed over the track, so as to compact theballast as far as possible by the Weight of the train, as is the regularcustom, and if the track is not then in service it may be surfaced inthe Way above described, being supported atl proper height, and the cement beds may be formed under all the ties at one time, the track beingsupported by the jacks-until all the cement beds are set and ready toreceive the load. Under other circumstances the invention may beemployed as found necessary, such variations in the apparatus or its useas would naturally occur being of course included within the scope ofthe invention.

By the use of the invention and the method described in the saidcompanion application the regular solid compacted beds for the tiesformed by the Weight of the passing trains are not in any Way disturbed;but instead of that a solidsupport conforming to any irregularities insuch ballast-bed and conforming to the under face of the portion of thetie supported is provided, this cement bed being of the full width ofthe tie and giving a broad solid support thereto conforming to theirregularities of the tiebody, so that a solid and 'perfect supporttherefor is obtained. The cement supporting-beds so formed also imite tosome extent With the ballast below and extending np the sides of theties and bind the Whole together into a solid supporting-block for thetie. It is also evident that the diculties heretofore experienced onaccount of the ballast holding the moisture in contact with thetie-bodies will be largely overcome, as the cement in conforming to theshape of the tie-body will prevent entrance of such moisture to anappreciable extent, and therefore prevent rotting, While the centerportion of the tie being but loosely ballasted and freely drained willnot be liable to rotting action. The main difiiculties with the use ofgravel ballast are also overcome,the ordinary gravel-ballasted trackbeing liable', through the yielding of the ballast, to force out thesame when a train passes over the same and in rising again when relievedof the load to suck in the air, such action, by the pumping out of theair, Working out, practically, all the small particles of sand or dirtin the form of dust, rendering travel exceedingly disagreeable andgradually carrying off and loosening the ballast and making resurfacingnecessary. It is evident that the cement beds formed in accordance Withthe invention Will entirely prevent such action, as the loose bodies ofsand will, as above stated, be united or bound to the cementsupporting-bed, which binds the whole together and prevents thisdifficulty. The difficulty of the wearin g of the stone ballast into theties will also be overcome, asthe cement Will flow around the stoneballast, forming a solid bed conforming to the shape of the tie andsupporting it, as above referred to, and giving' support for the fullWidth of the tie instead of ICO IIO

ISO

on a few points of the stone ballast, as in the present track. As thesolid beds formed by the weight of, the passing trains are notdissurfaced in this Way there will be little or no settling, the onlypossible settling being in the ballast in places where it has not beensuiciently packed, and in such cases a fresh layer of cement may beinjected, if necessary, which can easily be done by forming the cementmore iiu'id, so that it will iiow into the small space between the tieand cement bed previously formed. On account of the much more solidsupports Aso given to the ties the strength of the track to resiststrain is of course very largely increased, and it is believed that bythe invention a track will be made sufficiently strong to sustain theweight of the heavy rolling-stock new in use or heavier rolling-stockand to sustain much higher j speeds of trains than now employed.

The use of the invention will eifect a large saving in the cost ofmaintenance of roads,

considering the fact that when once applied to a solidly-packed trackresurfacing will seldom be necessary.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In combination With .a railroadltrack, a lain-plate adapted to engageWith the tie, and injecting apparatus adapted to inject cement under thetie and back of the dam-plate.

2. In combination with a railroad-track, a dam-plate having prongsthereon adapted to engage the end of the tie and injecting apparatusadapted to inject cement back of said plate.

3. In combination with a railroad-track, a dam-plate adapted to engagethe end of the tie having openings in the base thereof, and injectingapparatus having an injector-,pipe entering through said opening andadapted to inject cement under the tie.

4. In combination with a railroad-track, a

dam-plate adapted to engage the end of the tie and having an opening inthe base thereof, achann'el-molding bar adapted to pass through saidopening under the tie and injecting apparatus adapted to inject cementback of said dam-plate and around said channel-molding bar.

5. In combination with a railroad-track, a dam-plate adapted to engagethe end of the tie and having two openings at or near the base thereofand a channel-molding bar entering through one opening and passing underthe tie, and injecting apparatus entering through the other opening andadapted to inject cement under the tie and around said bar.

6. An injecting apparatus for injecting cement under railroad-trackshaving an injecting-pipe adapted to pass under the track, a verticalfeed-pipe communicating therewith, a basin at the upper end of saidfeeding-pipe and fluid-pressure apparatus communicating with the upperend of said feeding-pipebe- `low the basin and adapted to force thecement therefrom.

7. In apparatus for injecting cement under railroad-tracks, thecombination of a vertical feeding-pipe, a basin above the same, astopvalve at the base of the basin and fluid-pressure apparatuscommunicating with the upper end of the feed-pipe below the stop-valvfor forcing the cement therefrom.

8. In apparatus for injecting cement under railroad-tracks, afeeding-pipe having coupling connections at the upper end thereof inline with each other, one of said connections being closed by aremovable plug, the inner end of which conforms to the interior of thepipe.

9. In apparatus for'injecting cement under railroad-tracks, a pipe forthe passage of the cement having a cleaning-opening to form a straightcourse through or across the same, in combination with a removable plugfitting in said opening.

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM GOLDIE, have hereunto set myhand.v

NVILLIAM GOLDIE.

